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Health & Fitness

A New Blog

STEPHEN P. HERMAN, M.D., a resident of Fairfield County, practices adult and child forensic psychiatry.

I am thrilled to be able to be a member of the Patch team. It's an exciting way to reach
people and share ideas and suggestions for our many readers. This blog will focus on
parenting and children's behavioral issues. And, because I am a forensic child
psychiatrist, I'll explore with you the various ways in which children might be involved in
legal issues. These can range from child custody disputes and allegations of sexual
abuse, to juvenile delinquency and what can happen to kids who get into trouble.
I also have other interests, which I'd like to share with you from time to time. All psychiatry
and no play makes for a dull blog - and a dull professional. For example, I enjoy collecting
and using fountain pens. There's a whole world out there of like-minded people. The
Internet, of course, brings us together in ways never dreamed of a generation ago. There
are pen auction sites, buying sites, places where people can ask questions and find out
where to go for professional pen repairs. The fountain pen is alive and well!
And, surprise! The world is not just made up of MontBlancs. These pens are over-priced
and marketed very well. But they are by no means the world's best. When the spirit
moves me, I'll share some of my favorite pens with you and tell you why. For example,
Italian pens are perhaps the world's most beautifully designed. These include brands
such as Visconti, Delta, Aurora, and my favorite, OMAS. The Japanese make magnificent
pens, as do the Germans. There is even a magazine devoted to pens, Pen World. I write
for that magazine as well. I'm interested in featuring people who share this interest. One
of my great pleasures is seeing children try out fountain pens with different ink colors.
There's a 4-year-old I know who calls them "magic pens."
And, by the way, here's a plug for my favorite pen store - and one of the best in the world.
It's Arthur Brown and Brothers, and they're located at 2 West 45th Street, New York, New
York 10036. (1-800-772-PENS)They don't pay me a cent to tell you this; just thought I'd
mention them. If you'd like a pen for yourself or a gift for someone else, this is the place to
go. Ask Adrienne to help you out. She's terrific and knows everything.
From time to time, I might share with you my thoughts on a book I've read or a film I've
seen. I'll confess I'm partial to reading about American history. But, I do alternate with
novels. For example, right now I'm reading I Curse The River Of Time, by Per Pettersen.
A couple of years ago he wrote to much acclaim Out Stealing Horses. He's a Norwegian
writer blessed with a superb translator.
I enjoy books and films with a psychological orientation. People need to be real, in crisis
and conflict and work toward resolving their dilemmas.
But I'm getting far afield of parenting and children! So how about your questions and
comments? What topics relating to families would you like discussed in this blog? Stay
tuned . . .
STEPHEN

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The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?